The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-12
A CHIHUAHUA MAIDEN.
BY \. IL. Adds

maid, shutting at her heels 'mama-
citao The Slenz were robbed last
night The door of the sale was
broken in and the house ransackcd.
Lnpe's pearls are gone, with all the sill
yer cups and spoons and ladies, and
Julio S Charro suit that cost three hun
dred dollars, and, oh lot Of money
Don Lauro had in his chest"
Clcotas Mora, widow of Aldana,
shook her head in silent comment. She
had heard all too much in the last few
weeks of the depredations committed
by the lawlcss gentry who had just be-
gun to work their way up to Chihuahua
from the States below
and, mamma" said Basita, "Lupe
Saenz says that Lorenzo Garcia has
been walking past her window every
night this week, and she is quite sure
he cares more for her than for Angus
tina"
"Chismes :" then answered Cleofas
Mora. ''Why do you retail gossip
Have | not heart and hands full already,
that you should come babbling of
Guadalupe Slenz and her firtations
| thank the saints that my Augustine is
a prudent child, who does not take up
with every young blade that appears on
the Alameda. Who is this Lorenzo
Garcia? Whence comes he? To whom
does he bring letterso In my young
days we knew VINO a man might be be-
fore we owned he watched under our
windows. y pretty pass We are coming
TO, with the tree and easy manners the
American women have brought among
u.s."
Now, truth to tell, bona Cleofas was
on an average little of a scold, but to
day She was sore distraught. She was
the fortunate pOssessor of means. mod
crate enough to be sure, but still ade-
quate for her needs and she and hers
were gifted with sound mind and bodies.
But at the present moment she was
much exercised in spirit, and over the
very two matters on which BlaSita had
touched SO ghbly There was no doubt
that Lorenzo Garcia had been making
tentative advances toward the house Of
Aldana. And there was equal certainty
that Augustine was rather kindly dis
posed to hearken to the voice of the
charmer, coyly as yet, it was true, and
not to compromising degree but
bona Cleofas foresaw lively contest
tor the day when the girl should detini-
tely decide for her quasi admlrer, for
Augustine was endowed with some te-
naCity OF purpose. Lorenzo Garcia
was a stranger in chihuahua, for whom
none could vouch, and, for all his hand
some eyes and suavc address, bona
ClcOtas had no notion of passing over
to his control one third of the snug lit
tie sum she had laid by as dowry Tor
her daughters. Now, too, Dona Cleofas
had another source of disturbance
which she would by no means impart
to her household, composed exclusively
of women as it was. In the silent hours
of the preceding night she had heard
clearly and Enthusiastically the sound OF
feet moving cautiously in the little court
of her domicile, and her big watchdog
Pluto had been found stiI and dead
that morning, although none save her
self had thought of the cause she con-
fdently assigned for his demise. So far
as appeared there was no protection to
be had. The Aldana above was rather
isolated, and the very peculiarities Of
architectural form which render a Mex
lean house almost like a fortress to out
side attack virtually cut off communi
cation with and assistance from the out
side world, once the foe gained foot
hold within the gates. In those days
the police force of chihuahua, now ad
mirably organized was insignificant both
as TO numerical strength and effective
ness. Then Cleofas, imbucd with the
spirit of woman's subjugation and So
cial passivity of her race and day, felt
that she could call on no man of her
acquaintance for succor or protection.
There was nothing to do but await the
course of events.
The day went on, slowly enough,
perhaps, to Augustine, before whose
eyes the form of Lorenzo appeared not,
but all too swiftly to her mother, cndur-
ing sort of brcathless apprehension
Night tell, and the little family, shut in
side their four walls, passed the long win
ter evening as best they might. At bed
time bona CIeofas called her people to-
gether and, to their surprise and against
their protests, nlarshaled them away to a
great room, a chamber rarely used,
which lay at the rear of the house to-
ward the kitchens, and which was
strongly defended, having no windows,
but heavy oaken doors. These bona
Cleofas locked and barred securely and
mustered her flock together.
Hush, Blasa and you, too, Angus
tina But look you at Eduardo, the
youngest of you all-how silently she
obeys while you set up clamor. Why
do | bring you here? Because | will
SO, then. How now Am | no longer
mistress in my own abode? Here are
three beds with ample pillows-get you
to rest. And you, Beata, Hermclinda
and Dolores to the sewing women
''spread out your blankets here on the
floor near the ninas, and let me hear
not so much as a Chirp from one Of You